Stone Rivers

Stone Rivers

Stone Rivers brings together an art performance and film by artist Freya Marton, alongside symposia, residencies and exhibitions. Marton presents a striking dance performance featuring intricate medieval paper costumes inspired by both Norman architecture and futuristic design. The performances take place in castles and abbeys across Normandy and the UK. The programme concept is created by Alice Sharp (Invisible Dust, UK) and delivered through an international collaboration with partners in Normandy and the UK.

“The Middle Ages is one of the great inventive eras of humankind and stands as the first industrial revolution in Europe.” (Jean Gimpel)

Stone Rivers explores Norman ingenuity, focusing on the craftsmanship of Caen stone architecture and the waterways that transport materials and shape European cultures and languages. Many of the UK’s most iconic buildings—including the Tower of London, castles such as Chepstow, Corfe, Caernarfon and Cardiff, as well as Westminster Abbey, Battle Abbey, and the cathedrals of Durham and Canterbury—are built by the Normans, working with French and local stone masons, alongside sites in the Isles of Scilly and Ireland.

These enduring structures highlight both the aesthetic power and the contemporary environmental relevance of building with stone. The project examines the resources and skills developed by the Normans, how their techniques spread across regions, and how current climate challenges and renewable approaches renew interest in stone as a sustainable material. Stone lasts for thousands of years and carries a significantly lower carbon footprint—around 10% of steel and 30% of concrete.

Stone Rivers also follows the stone and river networks that enable William the Conqueror to extend his influence. Stone is quarried near Caen, often carved on site by skilled masons, then transported by ship across the Channel and along rivers throughout the UK, from Wales to Berwick. In 1066, William arrives with the strategic vision of building in stone, recognising that castles and cathedrals reinforce power and governance. In Wales, strong resistance shapes a landscape of fortifications, with numerous castles constructed along the borders by both Welsh and Norman forces.

Stone remains central to architectural heritage and future sustainability. Its durability, sculptural quality and low environmental impact make it a key material for contemporary construction. Norman carving and architectural design still shape landscapes across Europe, and ongoing restoration and conservation remain essential. Through Stone Rivers, symposia engage experts and audiences, while young people are encouraged to develop heritage skills and pursue careers in stone architecture.

The programme explores how these shared resources support a transition toward a greener European future, strengthening connections between the UK and Europe. Within the framework of the European Year of the Normans, Stone Rivers brings together artists, historians, scientists and young people to contribute to a renewed European cultural movement.

A Normandy–UK artistic programme exploring the ingenuity and contemporary climate relevance of Caen stone and architecture.

Practical information

Enquiries: admin@invisibledust.com

Normandy partners: House of Architecture, Usine Utopik, The National School of Architecture of Normandy

UK partners: English Heritage, National Trust, CCZ Berwick, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, Cadw (Welsh Government's historic environment service) and Royal Institute of British Architects

Image: © Freya Marton, detail of costume 2025, courtesy Invisible Dust and the artist.